Wayne Krantz
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| Wayne Krantz | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 July 1956 Corvallis, Oregon United States |
| Genres | Jazz fusion |
| Occupations | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | Abstract Logix |
| Associated acts | Tal Wilkenfeld, Steely Dan, Michael Brecker, Billy Cobham, Dennis Chambers, Leni Stern, Anthony Jackson |
| Website | http://www.waynekrantz.com |
| Notable instruments | |
| Tyler Studio Elite, Suhr Classic, 70's Fender Stratocaster, Sadowsky Vintage Strat, ESP Eclipse | |
Wayne Krantz (born July 26, 1956 in Corvallis, Oregon) is an American jazz fusion guitarist.[1] He has played with top artists such as Steely Dan, Michael Brecker, Billy Cobham, and others, but is most active as a solo performer.[2][3]
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[edit] Biography
Krantz released his first album, Signals, in 1990, sporting an array of recognized jazz musicians such as Dennis Chambers, Leni Stern, Anthony Jackson, and others. However, in 1992, he formed a trio with bassist Lincoln Goines and drummer Zach Danziger, and recorded two albums with them; Long To Be Loose, in 1993, and a live album, 2 Drink Minimum, in 1995. In doing so, he began to play periodically at the 55 Bar, a diverse and premier jazz club in New York City. In 1996, Krantz released an acoustic album with Leni Stern, dubbed Separate Cages. Wayne formed a new trio in 1997, consisting of his ferocious guitar skills, complemented by Tim Lefebvre on electric bass and Keith Carlock on drums, new sounds that would change his music's style drastically. On June 28, 2007, Krantz played his final regular Thursday night gig at NYC's 55 Bar. In an announcement by Krantz to his mailing list notifying his fans of the change, he stated a desire to move towards a "louder thing" requiring "bigger rooms, with stages and sound systems to pull it off."
Krantz's first three solo albums were released on the jazz label, Enja Records, which was at the time also home to frequent collaborator Leni Stern. However, Krantz's last three albums, 1999's Greenwich Mean, 2003's Your Basic Live, and 2007's "Your Basic Live '06" were both released from Wayne's private website. Like 2 Drink Minimum, these two albums both are excerpts of various sets at the 55 Bar. These two albums also include more use of effects pedals, and are more unscripted and improvised than the previous three, implying Wayne's tendency towards nonconformism on and off the stage. He contributed to Steely Dan co-founder Donald Fagen's newest release, Morph the Cat, and participated in touring with Fagen's band in early 2006. In another rare sideman role, Krantz is featured on tenor saxophonist Chris Potter's 2006 release, "Underground."
Wayne Krantz signed with record label Abstract Logix to release his first studio record in over fifteen years.[4] Krantz Carlock Lefebvre (2009) features the core trio of Keith Carlock on drums, Tim Lefebvre on bass, and Wayne on guitar.
[edit] Equipment/Sound
Krantz is most identified with a Stratocaster-type electric guitar.[5] Recently he has played a model manufactured by Tyler Guitars. Earlier releases such as "Signals" feature a chorus effect commonly associated with fusion guitar. Within several years, however, his sound became more organic, featuring analog effects such as overdrive, wah-wah, and a Moogerfooger ring modulator. For amplification, Krantz has used both Fender Deluxe Reverb and, more recently, Marshall amplifiers, namely a Marshall 2553 with a Bogner 2x12 cabinet, for a heavier sound.
[edit] Personal life
On May 22, 2004, Krantz married smooth jazz vocalist Gabriela Anders. Together they live in New York City with their daughter Marley.
[edit] Discography
- Signals (1990)
- Long To Be Loose (1993)
- 2 Drink Minimum (1995)
- Separate Cages (1996) (w/ Leni Stern)
- Greenwich Mean (1999)
- Your Basic Live (2003)
- Transformation (2007)[6]
- Your Basic Live '06 (2007)
- Krantz Carlock Lefebvre (2009)
[edit] References
- ^ allmusic performance credits and bio
- ^ All About Jazz bio
- ^ All About Jazz, article "Wayne Krantz: Back on Track", by Ian Patterson, August 25, 2009
- ^ Guitar Player Magazine, 'Guitar Maverick Wayne Krantz To Release First Studio Album In 15 Years', August 5 2009
- ^ "Mel Bay presents: Interviews with The Jazz Greats-- and more" by Charles H. Chapman, Mel Bay Publications, 2001, ISBN 0786659467, 9780786659463, page 39
- ^ [1]
- Gagne, Brian. "Your Basic Mindf***." Meniscus Magazine, August 1, 2003.
- Krevolin, Robert. "Words with Wayne Krantz." JamBase, August 15, 2001.
